A POPULAR UK Lido in Surrey is due to remain open all winter under new management.
Guildford Lido, the Spectrum and Ash Manor Sports Centre, in Guildford, Surrey, are all coming under new management.
Guildford Lido reopened this weekend following refurbishment[/caption]
The lido includes water slides and a children’s play area[/caption]
Entry costs from £5.57[/caption]
The change will see the Lido, water play area and re-designed gym open for longer.
PROCUREMENT EXERCISE
The Lido was closed in November last year for renovation but has since reopened.
Guildford Borough Council has announced it hopes to award a new leisure service contract to Wealden Leisure, trading as Freedom Leisure.
An existing contract that oversees the management and delivery of services at Guildford Spectrum, Guildford Lido and Ash Manor sports Centre is set to expire in October.
The council said it undertook a “robust” procurement exercise to secure a future operator from November this year.
FREEDOM LEISURE PROPOSAL
Freedom Leisure proposed almost £10 million worth of investment into the leisure sites.
What was included in the Freedom Leisure proposal?
- Introduction of a state-of-the-art soft play facility to replace the undersized existing soft play provision at the Spectrum
- Expansion and re-design of the existing Spectrum gym
- Introduction of a new mini golf solution, ‘Puttify’
- Installation of a new interactive water splash pad and play area within the Spectrum Leisure pool
- For the Lido, a new Reformer Pilates and Yoga/Hot Yoga Studio to replace the existing gym
- Three new floodlit Padel Tennis Courts (to replace the redundant crazy golf site and existing catering building)
- Sauna Cabin & Ice bath therapy dip pools
- Floodlights for year-round swimming
For the first time since 2020 year round swimming at the Lido could also be included.
Freedom Leisure proposed operating the pool during the suimmer and between 7am and 9pm during winter months.
This would be subject to external lighting being installed at the facility.
THE NEW CONTRACT
The new contract would see the winning tenderer commit to paying an average annual management fee of approximately £2.5 million over a decade long period.
The current operator paid the council just £1.1 million in 2024/2025.
The council currently sorts out the utility bills for the operator with rates agreed when the contract was signed in November 2011.
New arrangements would see the tenderer organise its own utilities bill.
The council would be responsible for any additional costs or savings.
The Lido’s cafe has also been upgraded[/caption]
Visitors can purchase a season pass from £115[/caption]
A key risk of the new contract is the potential for a significant increase in utility bills meaning extra costs for the council.
If the council does not agree to fund the investment in leisure, the operator would either not deliver on its promises or would have to find funding somewhere else.
The proposed contractor still has a number of hurdles to get over before being handed the facilities.
A final decision is due to be made at the end of July but before then councillors will interrogate the agreement and quiz the provider.
Swimming safety advice
Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer:
How to stay safe at the beach
Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: “If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety.
“If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”
How to stay safe at the swimming pool
Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: “Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency.
“It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life”.
An Auqabliss spokesperson added: “Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool.
“Children may try to grab these from the pool’s edge and fall in.”
How to stay safe at a waterpark
Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: “Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult.
“And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently.
“Waterparks are often very busy places and it’s easy to lose sight of a child in a split second.”
